Madame President,

Three months after the devastating earthquakes, the humanitarian situation in Syria continues to be a source of deep concern.

The international community responds to the aggravated needs, mostly through the UN cross-border assistance.

We welcome the extension of the two additional border crossings - Bab al Salame and Al Rai - for another three months. This is a step in the right direction to broaden the delivery of much needed humanitarian aid.

And in six weeks, this Council will be taking a decision on the renewal of Resolution 2672

As an immediate neighbor to Syria and UN’s main partner on cross-border mechanism, we believe that under the current circumstances, the Security Council re-authorization is essential so that this lifeline and the only viable method can continue to deliver humanitarian assistance, in a scale and scope needed.

We also have a responsibility to provide predictability to the humanitarian actors to ensure that humanitarian funds and other resources can be used in the most rational and efficient way.

This requires a longer-term perspective, planning and humanitarian programming, rather than the three-to-six months periods that the humanitarians had to operate on recently.

Hence, we call on the Security Council to renew the UN cross border mandate, at least for 12 months, with multiple border crossings.

Madame President,

We welcome that the UN’s Syria Earthquake Flash Appeal was fully funded, which was instrumental in supporting the post-disaster humanitarian efforts.

However, the recent reports by OCHA on critical funding gaps, including in the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan outline the alarming situation we may be faced with in the upcoming months.

Therefore, it is time to carefully consider how to improve the financing of vital humanitarian needs on a sustainable footing.

While we continue to provide uninterrupted humanitarian assistance without losing pace, we also need to focus on how to gradually reduce dependency on humanitarian aid.

This is why, the early recovery activities, carried out in line with Resolution 2672 are significant.

A longer-term Council renewal of this Resolution in July will also ensure the continuation of early recovery projects, which require more time to implement and get results.

In order to complement these humanitarian efforts, we also continue to encourage all parties to facilitate regular cross-line missions.

Madame President,

Türkiye is among the most affected from the 12 years of conflict in Syria. We have felt its various repercussions in security, economic and social aspects.

With a view to ensuring stability and security in Syria, we spearheaded numerous initiatives since the beginning of the conflict. And we continue our efforts also today with the same understanding.

As per UN Security Council Resolution 2254;

- Achieving political stability,

- Eliminating the threat of terrorism emanating from Syria and maintaining the territorial integrity and political unity of this neighboring country, as well as

- Preparing the grounds for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of Syrians, in coordination with the UN,

remain as top priorities for Türkiye.

Through the quadrilateral engagement process we launched with this understanding, meetings were held between the Foreign and Defense Ministers; and it was agreed to prepare a roadmap under the coordination of Deputy Foreign Ministers. These contacts will continue in the period ahead.

We are carrying out this process without preconditions and in good faith. It is not possible to resolve all issues in an instant, as this will need to be a long and phased process.

Nevertheless, the sides having found a common ground in the fight against terrorism prepares a basis which can be built on.

We advocate for the settlement of the Syrian conflict through a political process in line with Resolution 2254 and the legitimate rights and demands of the Syrian people.

We believe that if political stability is achieved, it can pave the way for the solution of other inter-related issues.

With this thought in mind, we continue our efforts towards the breaking of the political impasse and the convening of the Constitutional Committee. We support the ongoing efforts of Special Envoy Pedersen towards that objective.

Before I conclude, let me underscore that the recent engagement process does not in any way whatsoever mean a change in Türkiye’s determination to eliminate terrorism from its borders.

The terrorist organization PKK/YPG and its offshoot the so-called SDF, pose a major threat to both Türkiye and Syria and have no place in the future of the region.

Thank you.